Inlet Filter and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

An inlet filter and method of use are disclosed. In one aspect, the inlet filter comprises a frame, filter material, a feed stream inlet, and a filtrate outlet. The frame is configured so an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge. The frame comprises a thick portion and a narrow portion opposite the thick portion. The thick portion of the frame comprises the feed stream inlet. The filter material is positioned along a bottom surface of the frame and a portion of an upper surface of the frame that is opposite the feed stream inlet in the narrow portion of the frame. In another aspect, the method comprises inserting an inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet. The inlet filter can be one of a plurality of inlet filters inserted into the storm sewer inlet, the filters cooperating to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewer inlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The present invention relates, for example, to a filter for an inlet toa storm water conduit. In some aspects, the present invention relates toa filter for a curb inlet to storm water conduit. Moreover, in someaspects, the present invention relates to a filter that is modular.

Description of Related Art

Some jurisdictions require construction sites to place filters at theinlet of curb-side storm drains to prevent debris, lose soil or othermatter from flowing into a conduit for a storm water collection system.

Procedures for measuring the properties of filters are known and can befound in known test methods, for example ASTM D5261-10(2018), ASTMD4751-20, ASTM D4491/D4491M-17 available from ASTM international, whichtest methods are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety asexamples.

Existing options for filters, for example, bails of straw, rolls of afilter material, or bags full of sand or a filter material, includeaspects that can be undesirable. For example, existing devices can lackthe ability to remain installed in a storm sewer inlet for maintenance,lack modularity, lack the capability to easily fit storm drains havingopenings of different heights, widths and depths, lack desired ease ofinstallation, lack the ability to intercept and retain smaller floatabledebris, lack a combination of passing a high flow rate of water whileretaining a high weight percentage of sediment over a selected size,lack an overflow outlet to reduce local flooding associated with heavyrain, lack the ability to retain a sufficient volume of material, lackthe ability to intercept and retain smaller floatable material, lack theability to provide a fit that is flush or nearly flush to an opening ofa storm drain and thereby lack the ability to increase safety ordecrease interference from pedestrian or automobile traffic, lack theability to provide enhanced reduction of damage from contractors duringdevelopment of a site protected by the filters, lack an enhanced abilityto resist damage or UV degradation, lack desired durability, lack adesired strength, lack reusability, lack a reusable frame with areplaceable filter material, have a less than desirable life span, orhave an undesirably high cost.

Accordingly, existing filters have undesirable characteristics and lackdesirable features.

SUMMARY OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first embodiment, an inlet filter is provided. Theinlet filter comprises a frame, filter material, a feed stream inlet,and a filtrate outlet. The feed stream inlet is configured to receive afeed stream, the feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materialscarried by the fluid. The filtrate outlet is configured to discharge afiltrate stream comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feedstream that passes through the filter material and any solid materialsthat pass through the filter material. The frame is configured so thatan exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge. The frame comprises athick portion configured so that it is too thick to pass through areference rectangle, and the frame comprises a narrow portion oppositethe thick portion. The narrow portion of the frame is configured so thatit is thin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle. The thickportion of the frame comprises the feed stream inlet.

In accordance with a second embodiment, a method of using an inletfilter is provided. The method comprises inserting an inlet filter intoa storm sewer inlet. The inlet filter comprises components, thecomponents comprising: a frame, filter material, feed stream inlet,filtrate outlet and frame. The feed stream inlet is configured toreceive a feed stream comprising a fluid and solid materials carried bythe fluid. The filtrate outlet is configured to discharge at least aportion of a filtrate stream comprising fluid from the feed stream thatpasses through the filter material and any solid materials that passthrough the filter material. The frame is configured so that an exteriorof the frame is shaped like a wedge, the frame comprising a thickportion configured so that it is too thick to pass through a referencerectangle and the frame comprising a narrow portion opposite the thickportion, the narrow portion configured so that it is thin enough to beinserted into the reference rectangle. The thick portion of the framecomprises the feed stream inlet.

Other aspects, embodiments and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Theaccompanying figures are schematic and are not intended to be drawn toscale. In the figures, each identical, or substantially similarcomponent that is illustrated in various figures is represented by asingle numeral or notation. For purposes of clarity, not every componentis labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of each embodiment ofthe invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow thoseof ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration from the right side of an embodimentof an inlet filter installed in a storm sewer inlet for a storm sewer.FIG. 1 illustrates how a feed stream can enter the inlet filter, afiltrate stream can pass through a filter material and be dischargedfrom the inlet filter to the storm sewer, a retentate can be retained bythe inlet filter, and optionally, during an overflow condition, anelevated portion of the feed stream can be discharged to the storm sewerthrough an overflow outlet of the inlet filter without passing throughthe filter material.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration from the front and right side of anembodiment of an inlet filter with a retention structure, for example,mesh, being used in conjunction with the frame.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration from the right side, top and rear ofthe inlet filter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration from the rear, top and left of theinlet filter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration from the front, top and right side ofan embodiment of an inlet filter without a retention structure, forexample, mesh, being used in conjunction with the frame.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration from the right side, front and top ofthe inlet filter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration from the top and slightly to theright of the inlet filter of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an inlet filter illustrating how anarrow portion of the inlet filter is thin enough to pass through areference rectangle while a thick portion of the inlet filter is toothick to pass through the reference rectangle.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method forusing at least one inlet filter.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration from the front and left of anembodiment of an inlet filter comprising a frame made from metal (e.g.,aluminum) having apertures.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration from a left side, rear and top ofthe inlet filter of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration from the top, rear and left of theinlet filter of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration from the left, rear and top of theinlet filter of FIG. 10, illustrating how a filter cartridge thatretains a filter material can be removed from the inlet filter, forexample, through an aperture in a side or both sides of the inletfilter, so that the filter material can be installed, removed, replaced,or any combination thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, the inlet filters and methods described in thepresent application solve one or more problems or provide one or moreadvantages. For example, in some embodiments, the inlet filters have theability to remain installed in a storm sewer inlet for maintenance, aremodular, have the capability to easily fit storm drains having openingsof different heights, widths and depths, have a desired ease ofinstallation, have the ability to intercept and retain smaller floatabledebris, pass a high flow rate of water while retaining a high weightpercentage of sediment over a selected size, comprise an overflow outletto reduce local flooding associated with heavy rain, have the ability toretain a sufficient volume of material (e.g., in an internal cavity ofthe inlet filter), have the ability to intercept and retain smallerfloatable material, have the ability to provide a fit that is flush ornearly flush to an opening of a storm drain and thereby has the abilityto increase safety or decrease interference from pedestrian orautomobile traffic, have the ability to provide enhanced reduction ofdamage from contractors during development of a site protected by thefilters, have an enhanced ability to resist damage or UV degradation,have desired durability, have a desired strength, are reusable, have areusable frame with a replaceable filter material, have a desirable lifespan, have a sufficiently low cost, or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an inlet filter 0100 for astorm sewer inlet 0102 will now be described. The inlet filter 0100comprises a frame 0104, filter material 0202, a feed stream inlet 0106,and a filtrate outlet 0124. The feed stream inlet 0106 is configured toreceive a feed stream 0108, the feed stream 0108 comprising a fluid andsolid materials carried by the fluid. The filtrate outlet 0124 isconfigured to discharge a filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least aportion of the fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through thefilter material 0202 and any solid materials that pass through thefilter material 0202.

The frame 0104 is configured so that an exterior of the frame 0104 isshaped like a wedge, the frame 0104 comprising a thick portion 0110configured so that it is too thick to pass through a reference rectangle0802 and the frame 0104 comprising a narrow portion 0112 opposite thethick portion 0110. The narrow portion 0112 is configured so that it isthin enough to be inserted into the reference rectangle 0802. Asillustrated, the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprises the feedstream inlet 0106.

The filter material 0202 can be positioned along a bottom surface 0114of the frame 0104 and a portion of an upper surface 0116 of the frame0104. The portion of the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 beingpositioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104 and adjacent toan insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104. As illustrated, the insertionend 0118 of the frame 0104 can be positioned opposite the feed streaminlet 0106.

As illustrated with reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inletfilter 0100, the frame 0104 is configured to form an inner cavity 0120within the frame 0104, and the inlet filter 0100 is configured to retainfloatable solid materials in the inner cavity 0120.

In some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100comprises an overflow outlet 0302, and the overflow outlet 0302 isconfigured to allow an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 tobe discharged from the inlet filter 0100 without passing through thefilter material 0202. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the elevated portion0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprises a portion of the feed stream 0108at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filtermaterial 0202.

With reference to FIG. 11, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100,the inlet filter 0100 comprises an overflow inlet 1102, and the overflowinlet 0302 is configured to allow an elevated portion 0122 of the feedstream 0108 to enter the inlet filter 0100 without passing through anyfilter material 0202, 1104, 1302 at the feed stream inlet 0106 of theinlet filter 0100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the elevated portion 0122of the feed stream 0108 comprises a portion of the feed stream 0108 atan elevation higher than the elevation of the top of the filter material0202 located at the feed stream inlet of the inlet filter 0100.Additionally, although FIG. 11 illustrates a raised ridge 1302 of filtermaterial (e.g., at least partially vertically oriented filter material)at the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter and downstream of theinlet filter (e.g. toward an insertion end 0118 of the inlet filter,under the overflow outlet 0302, or a combination thereof), this is notrequired. The overflow inlet 1102, the filter material 0202, 1104 (e.g.,at least partially vertically oriented filter material or a ridge offilter material) at the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g. corresponding toand/or under the overflow inlet 1102), the overflow outlet 0302, or thefilter material 0202, 1302 (e.g., at least partially vertically orientedfilter material or a ridge of filter material) downstream of the feedstream inlet 0106 (e.g., corresponding to and/or under) the overflowoutlet 0302 can all appear in a single embodiment, or can be usedindependently or in any desired combination. For example, in someembodiments, an overflow inlet, an overflow outlet or both can be usedin conjunction with a finer mesh or screen formed from apertures in theframe, as opposed to filter material. This finer mesh or screen can haveapertures smaller (e.g., by length, width, or area) than the aperturesof the overflow inlet or the overflow outlet, respectively. Withreference now to FIG. 3 specifically and FIGS. 2 to 4 more generally, insome embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the frame 0104 comprisesspaced apertures 0304, and the inlet filter 0100 comprises an objectretention structure 0306, which is configured to retain floatablematerials that enter the inlet filter 0100. In some embodiments, atleast 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the objectretention structure 0306 are smaller than an average size by area of thespaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104.

With reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100,the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the filter material 0202 canbe removed from the inlet filter 0100 and replaced with a replacementfilter material 0202. In some embodiments, a user can remove the inletfilter though a storm sewer inlet while positioned beside a curb inwhich the storm sewer inlet is located. Additionally, in someembodiments, this can be accomplished without needing to open or enter amanhole corresponding to the storm sewer inlet.

With reference to FIG. 8, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100,the exterior of the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that an angle0804 between a top exterior surface 0806 of the inlet filter 0100 and abottom exterior surface 0808 of the inlet filter 0100 is from 15 to 45degrees or any value or range of values contained within the range from15 to 45 degrees.

With reference to FIG. 3 specifically, and FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 5 to 7more generally, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the frame0104 comprises spaced apertures, and at least 50% and up to 100% by areaof the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 have an aperture length0308 and an aperture width 0310 equal to 6 to 8 inches, the aperturelength 0308 of an aperture being the longest distance between any twopoints on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture, and the aperture width0310 of the aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicularto the aperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on theframe 0104 that bound the aperture.

In some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter 0100comprises an object retention structure 0306, the object retentionstructure 0306 is configured to retain floatable materials that enterthe inlet filter 0100 and can pass through the spaced apertures 0304 inthe frame 0104.

With reference again to FIG. 3, in some embodiments of an inlet filter0100, the frame 0104 comprises spaced apertures 0304, and at least 50%and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures 0304 have an aperturelength 0308 and an aperture width 0310 equal to 1 to 5 inches, theaperture length 0308 of an aperture 0304 being the longest distancebetween any two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture 0304,and the aperture width 0310 being measured in a direction that isperpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and being measured between twopoints on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture 0304.

With reference now to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter0100, the inlet filter 0100 comprises a filter cartridge 0134 configuredto retain the filter material 0202. In some embodiments, the filtercartridge is configured so that the filter material 0202 can be replacedby a user 0136 while the inlet filter 0100 is positioned in anoperational configuration, which is a configuration in which the inletfilter 0100 could operate if the filter material 0202 were operablyinstalled to filter the feed stream 0108. In some embodiments, thefilter cartridge 0134 is configured so that the filter material 0202 canbe replaced by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102 while theinlet filter 0100 is installed in the storm sewer inlet 0102.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100,the inlet filter 0100 comprises a lock 0132. The lock 0132 is configuredto prevent removal of the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet0102 while the lock 0132 is in a locked configuration.

With further reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments of an inlet filter0100, the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the inlet filter 0100remains in an operative location at least partially in the storm sewerinlet 0102 while operating to filter the feed stream 0108 entering thestorm sewer inlet 0102. For example, when it rains, water can rush intothe storm sewer inlet and push against the inlet filter as the water isfiltered. Nonetheless, the shape of the inlet filter, which is thickertoward one end and narrower toward the other end, will resist beingpushed further into the storm sewer because the thicker portion of theinlet filter is too large to pass through the storm sewer inlet.

In some embodiments of an inlet filter 0100, the filter material 0202comprises a non-woven geotextile fabric. Although, essentially anyfilter material can be used so that the size of particles or objectsfiltered by the filter material and the mass or volumetric flow rate ofwater flowing through an area of the filter material (e.g., the flux ofwater) can be tailored to desired specifications. To illustrate, in someembodiments, the filter material is a non-woven geotextile fabric thathas a weight per area equal to 3.1 to 3.5 ounces per square yard. Anexamples is the Mirafi® 135N needle punched nonwoven geotextile composedof polypropylene fibers that are formed into a stable network so thefibers retain their relative positions. The geotextile has a weight of3.4 ounces per square yard, an apparent opening size of 0.30 mm (USSieve #50) and a flow rate of 155 gallons per minute per square foot(gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2). In some embodiments, the filter materialis a monofilament fabric.

Now, with reference to FIG. 9, an embodiment of a method 0900 for usingan inlet filter will now be described. The method can comprise twosteps. A first step comprises inserting 0902 an inlet filter 0100 into astorm sewer inlet 0102. The optional second step, which can occur afterthe first step, comprises using 0904 the at least one inlet filter 0100to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewer inlet 0102. The inletfilter can be any inlet filter described in this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the method comprises inserting a plurality of inletfilters 0100 into the storm sewer inlet 0102. The step of inserting aplurality of inlet filters into the storm sewer inlet comprises the stepof inserting 0902 the inlet filter 0100 into the storm sewer inlet 0102,and the plurality of inlet filters 0100 comprises the inlet filter 0100and at least one additional inlet filter 0100. In some embodiments, theinlet filter 0100 comprises specified components and each of the atleast one additional inlet filter 0100 comprising correspondingcomponents that correspond to the specified components of the inletfilter 0100. In other words, each of the inlet filters in the pluralityof inlet filters can comprise all of the components and features of theinlet filter 0100. Moreover, the components of each of the plurality ofthe inlet filters can be configured (e.g., positioned, oriented,arranged relative to each other, or any combination thereof) as thecomponents of the inlet filter 0100 are configured. Accordingly, it isevident that the inlet filter 0100 can be modular. For example, severalof the inlet filters can be placed adjacent to each other, can be placedside-by-side, can partially overlap, can be coupled together, connectedor otherwise work together to filter a feed stream to a storm sewerinlet. This can be especially helpful when one inlet filter is not wideenough to cover the entire inlet to a storm sewer inlet. It is alsoadvantageous that the thickness 0810 (e.g., the thickness of across-section of the inlet filter (e.g., frame)) can decrease (e.g.,gradually decrease) from the front (where the feed stream inlet islocated) to the rear (which protrudes into the storm sewer inlet), whichmeans that the inlet filter can be used with storm sewer inlets ofdifferent heights. Accordingly, the inlet filter has the ability to bestacked modularly with other inlet filters to be able to cover (or atleast mostly or almost completely cover) the open area of storm sewerinlets with various heights and widths, and therefore filter (or atleast mostly or almost completely filter), a feed stream (e.g., waterand any solid objects carried by the water) entering the various stormsewer inlets. For example, in some embodiments, an inlet filter or aplurality of inlet filters working together can cover at least 50, 60,70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99% and up to 100% by areaof the open area of a storm sewer inlet.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, in some embodiments of a method ofusing the inlet filter, the inlet filter 0100 comprises a lock 0132, andthe method comprises locking the lock 0132 of the inlet filter 0100 sothat the inlet filter 0100 cannot be removed from the storm sewer inlet0102. An example of a lock 0132 in a locked configuration is illustratedby the solid line in FIG. 8. The method can also comprise unlocking thelock 0132 of the inlet filter 0100 so that the inlet filter 0100 can beremoved from the storm sewer inlet 0102. An example of a lock 0132 in anunlocked configuration is illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 8.

With further reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, in some embodiments of themethod of using the inlet filter, the inlet filter 0100 comprises afilter cartridge 0134, and the filter cartridge retains the filtermaterial 0202. The method can comprise opening 0906 the filter cartridgeof the inlet filter 0100 and replacing 0908 the filter material 0202through the storm sewer inlet 0102.

With reference again to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, in some embodiments of themethod of using the inlet filter, the method comprises using 0904 theinlet filter 0100 for filtering the feed stream 0108 entering the stormsewer inlet 0102. The filtering step can comprise several steps. A firststep comprises using the feed stream inlet 0106 to receive the feedstream 0108, which comprises a fluid (e.g., storm water, solvents,industrial chemicals, automotive oil, gasoline, or any combinationthereof) and the solid materials (e.g., debris, dirt, trash or anycombination thereof) carried by the fluid.

A second step comprises using the filter material 0202 to filter thefeed stream 0108, thereby providing the filtrate stream 0126 comprisingthe fluid and the solid materials that can pass through the filtermaterial 0202 and a retentate 0138 comprising solid materials thatcannot pass through the filter material 0202.

A third step comprises discharging the filtrate stream 0126.

A fourth step comprises retaining solid materials in the retentate 0138in an inner cavity 0120 of the inlet filter 0100.

In some embodiments, the inlet filter 0100 can be configured so thatduring an overflow condition wherein the top of the feed stream 0108 isat an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material 0202, theinlet filter 0100 discharges an elevated portion 0122 of the feed stream0108 through at least one aperture 0304 in the inlet filter 0100. Theelevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 comprises a portion of thefeed stream 0108 at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top0128 of the filter material 0202. The at least one aperture 0304 can beconfigured to pass smaller objects in the solid materials (e.g., soil,bottle caps or a combination thereof) and retain larger objects (e.g.,bottles) in the solid materials.

With reference to FIGS. 10-14, in some embodiments an inlet filter 0100can comprise a frame and a removable filter cartridge 0134 that can becoupled to the frame 0104. As illustrated, the filter cartridge can beconfigured to retain a filter material 0202 in an operativeconfiguration with respect to the inlet filter 0100. As can be seen, insome embodiments, the filter material 0202 can be located at the bottomof the inlet filter 0100. In some embodiments, a portion of the filtermaterial (e.g., a ridge 1302 of filter material) can be configured todirect fluid in the feed stream through the filter material). In someembodiments, the entirety of the filter material can slope upwardly awayfrom a feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter. In some embodiments,a portion of the filter material (e.g., a ridge 1302 of filter material)can extend upwardly, for example, extending to an upper portion 0116 ofthe frame in a narrower portion 0112 of the frame at the rear of theinlet filter. The filter material can also extend upwardly at a feedstream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter. For example, this can be usefulto retain solid materials (e.g., sediment, debris, smaller objects,larger objects, or any combination thereof) in the feed stream, forexample, outside the inlet filter, at or adjacent to an entrance to thestorm sewer inlet, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, thefilter material does not comprise a portion of the filter material thatextends upwardly, but the inlet filter can nonetheless be configured sothat the feed stream entering the inlet filter 0100 is directed throughthe filter material 0202, which can be retained by the inlet filter in acartridge (optionally retained in an internal cavity of the inletfilter), and which cartridge can be removably coupled to the inletfilter. As a skilled person would understand upon reading thisdisclosure, various configurations of the inlet filter 0100 can be usedto direct the fluid in a feed stream through the filter material whenthe inlet filter is not operating under an overflow condition.

With reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 12, in some embodiments of an inletfilter (for example, in any embodiment of the inlet filter for which itis desired), the apertures 0304 in the frame can be offset. This can beuseful to help direct the fluid in the feed stream through the filtermaterial in the absence of an overflow condition, for example, asopposed to simply flowing through the inlet filter without passingthrough the filter material. As an example of offset apertures in theframe, the apertures forming a part of the feed stream inlet (e.g., atthe front of the inlet filter) and the apertures forming a part of thefiltrate outlet, the overflow outlet, or a combination thereof (e.g.,apertures located rearwardly or downstream of the feed stream inlet) canbe configured so that fluid (e.g., water) in a feed stream entering thefilter through the feed stream inlet will flow into a blocking portionof the frame located rearwardly or downstream of the feed stream inletif an overflow condition does not exist. This is in contrast to a designwhere the fluid in the feed stream that enters an aperture at the frontof the inlet filter could flow straight through the inlet filter and outof an aperture toward the rear of the inlet filter without beingfiltered, even though an overflow condition does not exist. To provide afurther example, the apertures in the front and rear of the frame can beconfigured so that for at least one aperture (e.g., one and only one, aplurality of apertures, at least a portion of the apertures by area, atleast 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and up to 100% of the apertures by area, eachof the apertures, or any combination thereof) located at the front ofthe frame (e.g., where the feed stream inlet is located in the thickerportion of the frame), a straight line parallel to the bottom surface ofthe frame and extending from the front of the frame toward the rear ofthe frame (e.g., adjacent to the narrower portion of the frame) does notintersect an edge of the at least one aperture in the front of the frameand a corresponding edge of a corresponding aperture toward the rear ofthe frame. In additional embodiments, the inlet filter can comprisebaffles, for example, to accomplish an effect similar to the effect ofapertures in the front of the inlet filter being offset from aperturestoward the rear of the inlet filter.

In some embodiments, the filtrate outlet of an inlet filter can beformed by at least one aperture in the frame (e.g., one and only oneaperture or plurality of apertures adjacent to the filter material), atleast one aperture (e.g., one and only one aperture or plurality ofapertures adjacent to the filter material) in a filter cartridge, or acombination thereof. The apertures forming a part of the feed streaminlet (e.g., at the front of the inlet filter) can be relatively largerthan at least some of the apertures that form a part of the overflowoutlet. In some embodiments, some of the apertures forming a part of theoverflow outlet are relatively larger apertures 1202 when compared toother relatively smaller apertures 1204 that form a part of the overflowoutlet. In some embodiments of the inlet filter 0100, relatively higherapertures forming a part of the overflow outlet are relatively largerapertures 1202 when compared to relatively lower apertures (e.g.,relatively smaller apertures 1204) that form a part of the overflowoutlet. As an additional example, a relatively larger aperture can havea larger aperture 1202 length, aperture width, aperture area, or anycombination thereof when compared to a relatively smaller aperture 1204.In some embodiments, the relatively larger apertures can be shaped likea rectangle (optionally rectangle with its longest side orientedvertically), the relatively smaller apertures can be shaped like acircle, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments of the inletfilter 0100, relatively higher apertures are relatively larger apertures1202 when compared to relatively lower apertures (e.g., relativelysmaller apertures 1204).

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration from the left and top of the inletfilter of FIG. 10, illustrating how a filter cartridge 0134 that retainsa filter material 0202 can be removed from the inlet filter, forexample, through an aperture 1304 in a side or apertures 1304 in bothsides of the inlet filter 0100, so that the filter material 0202 can beinstalled, removed, replaced, or any combination thereof.

The frame and/or filter cartridge can be made from any suitablematerial. In some embodiments, the frame and/or filter cartridge can bemade from a single sheet of material (e.g., metal, aluminium, a polymer,etc.) having at least one aperture 0304 (e.g., a plurality ofapertures). When the sheet is made from metal (e.g., sheet metal), themetal can be perforated to form the apertures and folded to form theframe and/or filter cartridge. If the frame and/or filter cartridge ismade from metal wire, the frame and/or filter cartridge can compriseapertures as a result of the spacing between wires that make up theframe and/or filter cartridge. If the frame and/or filter cartridge ismade from any moldable material (e.g., metal, polymer, etc.), the frameand/or filter cartridge can be molded to have a desired shape comprisingthe at least one aperture (e.g., plurality of apertures).

Additional Embodiments

The following clauses include descriptive embodiments that are offeredas further support of the disclosed invention:

1. An inlet filter 0100, the inlet filter comprising:

a frame 0104;

filter material 0202;

a feed stream inlet 0106; and

a filtrate outlet 0124;

the frame configured so an exterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge;

the frame comprising a thick portion and a narrow portion opposite thethick portion;

the thick portion of the frame comprising the feed stream inlet;

the inlet filter configured so that a fluid in the feed stream isdirected through the filter material;

the filter material (e.g., a portion of the filter material, most of thefilter material, or all of the filter material) being positioned along abottom surface of the frame;

inlet filter 0100 (e.g., configured to filter at least a portion of afeed stream 0108 that enters the inlet filter 0100, retain a retentate0138 and discharge a filtrate stream 0126; optionally the retentate 0138comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the inlet filter0100, the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of thefluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter materialand any solid materials that pass through the filter material (e.g.,dissolved solids, solids smaller than pores of the filter material, orany combination thereof), or any combination thereof);

the filter material (e.g., a portion of the filter material, less thanhalf of the filter material, or all of the filter material) beingpositioned along a portion of an upper surface of the frame that isopposite the feed stream inlet in the narrow portion of the frame;

or

any combination thereof.

2. An inlet filter 0100 (e.g., for a storm sewer inlet 0102, the stormsewer inlet 0102 being located in a curb), (optionally the inlet filter0100 comprising components), the inlet filter 0100 (or the components ofthe inlet filter 0100) comprising:

a frame 0104; and

filter material 0202 (e.g., configured to filter at least a portion of afeed stream 0108 that enters the inlet filter 0100, retain a retentate0138 and discharge a filtrate stream 0126; optionally the retentate 0138comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the filter material0202, the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of thefluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through the filter material0202 and any solid materials that pass through the filter material 0202(e.g., dissolved solids, solids smaller than pores of the filtermaterial 0202 or any combination thereof), or any combination thereof);

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a feed stream inlet 0106, a filtrateoutlet 0124, optionally an overflow inlet 1102 and optionally anoverflow outlet 0302;

optionally, the frame 0104 being wedge-shaped.

3. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the feed stream inlet 0106 configured to receive a feed stream 0108comprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid;

the filtrate outlet 0124 configured to discharge at least a portion of afiltrate stream 0126 (e.g., some or all of the filtrate stream 0126, thefiltrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion of a filtrate stream0126 comprising fluid in the feed stream 0108 that passes through theinlet filter 0100 (e.g., filter material 0202) and any solid materialsthat pass through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the filter material 0202of the inlet filter 0100);

the filtrate outlet 0124 configured to discharge at least a portion of afiltrate stream 0126 comprising fluid in the feed stream 0108 thatpasses through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the filter material 0202)and any solid materials that pass through the inlet filter 0100 (e.g.,the filter material 0202 of the inlet filter 0100);

the overflow outlet 0302 configured to allow an elevated portion 0122 ofthe feed stream 0108 to be discharged from the inlet filter 0100 withoutpassing through the filter material 0202, the elevated portion 0122 ofthe feed stream 0108 comprising a portion of the feed stream 0108 at anelevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filtermaterial 0202;

the feed stream inlet 0106 comprising a frame feed stream opening in theframe 0104;

the filtrate outlet 0124 comprising a frame 0104 filtrate opening in theframe 0104;

the overflow outlet 0302 comprising a frame 0104 overflow opening;

the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g., frame feed stream opening) configuredto cover at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99wt. % and up to 100 wt. % by area) of the cross-sectional area of thestorm sewer inlet 0102, optionally, the cross-sectional area is taken ina plane parallel to a feed inlet surface of the frame 0104 thatcomprises the frame feed stream opening; optionally the cross-sectionalarea taken in a direction perpendicular to the average direction by massflow rate from which fluid is intended to flow into the storm sewerinlet 0102, the inlet filter 0100, or a combination thereof;

the feed stream inlet 0106 (e.g., frame feed stream opening) configuredto receive at least a portion (e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99wt. % and up to 100 wt. % by mass or volumetric flow rate) of a feedstream 0108 flowing into a storm sewer inlet 0102;

the frame 0104 being configured so that an exterior (e.g., the externalsurfaces) of the frame 0104 is wedge-shaped (e.g., shaped like a wedge,shaped like the exterior of a triangular prism, or any combinationthereof), the frame 0104 (e.g., the shape of the wedge) comprising athick portion 0110 configured so that it is too thick to pass through areference rectangle 0802 (e.g., corresponding to the storm sewer inlet0102) or the storm sewer inlet 0102 (e.g., configured to be too thick topass through a reference rectangle 0802, which can be the size of thestorm sewer inlet 0102; configured to have a thickness 0810 (e.g.,maximum thickness) that is greater than the distance between oppositeinner surfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102; configured to be retainedby, restricted by, secured relative to, immobilized relative to, fixedin position relative to, or lodged in the storm sewer inlet 0102, or anycombination thereof; or configured to be retained by opposite innersurfaces of, secured relative to, immobilized relative to, fixed inposition relative to, or lodged in the storm sewer inlet 0102, or anycombination thereof; or any combination thereof), and the frame 0104comprising a narrow portion 0112 opposite the thick portion 0110, thenarrow portion 0112 configured so that it is thin enough to be insertedinto the reference rectangle 0802 (e.g., corresponding to the stormsewer inlet 0102) or the storm sewer inlet 0102 (e.g., configured to betoo thin enough to pass through the reference rectangle 0802; configuredto have a thickness 0810 (e.g., maximum thickness) that is equal to orless than the distance between opposite inner surfaces of the stormsewer inlet 0102; configured to be able to pass through the storm sewerinlet 0102; configured to pass through or between opposite innersurfaces of the storm sewer inlet 0102; or any combination thereof); thereference rectangle 0802 being perpendicular to a bottom surface of theinlet filter (e.g., frame); the reference rectangle 0802 being parallelto an entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) where the feedstream inlet 0106 is located; the reference rectangle 0802 beingparallel to a bottom of entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g.,frame) where the feed stream inlet 0106 is located; the referencerectangle 0802 being vertical when the bottom surface of the inletfilter (e.g., frame) is horizontal; or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter (e.g., frame) having a length 0812 (e.g., maximumlength) equal to 48 inches, equal to at least 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54,60, 72, or 84 inches, no more than 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 84 or96 inches, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter (e.g., frame) having a width 0814 (e.g., maximum width)equal to 14 inches, equal to at least 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72,84, 96, 108, or 120 inches, no more than 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72,84, 96, 108, 120 or 132 inches, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter (e.g., frame) having a thickness 0810 (e.g., maximumthickness) equal to 7.5 inches, equal to at least 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5,7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, or 13.5 inches, no more than 4.5, 5.5,6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5 or 14.5 inches, or anycombination thereof;

the length 0812 (e.g., maximum length, for example, for any shape with alength that varies) of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) being: the longestdistance between any two points on the bottom surface of the inletfilter (e.g., frame) in a direction that the inlet filter is configuredto be inserted into the storm sewer inlet (e.g., a direction from thethick portion of the frame toward the narrow portion of the frame);measured in a horizontal plane when the bottom surface of the inletfilter is oriented horizontally; the longest distance between any twopoints on the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that is parallelto one or both planes tangent to either or both sides of the inletfilter (e.g., frame); the longest distance between any two points on theinlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that is parallel to abisection plane that bisects the angle between a plane tangent to theleft side of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) and a frame tangent to theright side of the inlet filter; the longest distance between any twopoints on the inlet filter (e.g., frame) in a direction that the inletfilter is configured to be inserted into the storm sewer inlet (e.g., adirection from the thick portion of the frame toward the narrow portionof the frame); the longest distance between any two points on the inletfilter (e.g., frame) in a direction that is perpendicular to an entrancesurface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) where the feed stream inlet islocated (e.g., a direction from the thick portion of the frame towardthe narrow portion of the frame); measured in a horizontal plane whilethe inlet filter is in use; or any combination thereof;

the thickness 0810 being: the height of a cross-section of the inletfilter (e.g., frame); the cross-section being oriented in a directionperpendicular to the length (e.g., maximum length) of the inlet filter(e.g., frame); the height of the cross-section of the inlet filter(e.g., frame) measured from a bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g.,frame) in a vertical direction where the height is being measured whilethe bottom surface of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) rests on ahorizontal surface); the height of the cross-section of the inlet filter(e.g., frame) as measured from a bottom surface of the inlet filter(e.g., frame) in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface wherethe height is being measured; or any combination thereof;

the width 0814 (e.g., maximum width, for example, for any shape with awidth that varies) of the inlet filter (e.g., frame) being the longestdistance between any two points on the inlet filter (e.g., frame frame)as measured: in a direction that is perpendicular to the length of theinlet filter and the thickness of the inlet filter; in a direction thatis perpendicular to a length of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); from oneside to an opposite side of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); in adirection parallel to the entrance surface of the inlet filter (e.g.,frame) where the feed stream inlet is located; in a direction that isparallel to the bottom of the inlet filter (e.g., frame); in a directionthat is horizontal and being measured while the inlet filter is in use;in a horizontal plane when the bottom surface of the inlet filter isoriented horizontally; or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 being configured to form an inner cavity 0120 within theframe 0104;

the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 comprising a feed stream inlet0106 (e.g., the feed stream inlet 0106), the feed stream inlet 0106comprising at least one opening;

the feed stream inlet 0106 being configured to permit a fluid and solids(e.g., soil, debris, construction materials or any combination thereof)carried by the fluid (e.g., water, rain, chemicals, solvents, oil, orany combination thereof) to flow into the at least one opening;

the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 is adjacent to a feed inlet endof the frame 0104;

the thin portion of the frame 0104 is adjacent to an insertion end 0118of the frame 0104 (e.g., configured to be inserted into the storm sewerinlet 0102);

the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 is opposite the feed inlet endof the frame 0104;

the filter material 0202 being coupled (e.g., removably coupled,removably fixed, removably attached or any combination thereof) to theframe 0104, the filter material 0202 configured to permit the fluid topass through the filter material 0202 (e.g., so that the fluid can passthrough the inlet filter 0100, through the storm sewer inlet 0102, intoa downstream portion of the storm sewer 0130, or any combinationthereof), the filter material 0202 configured to retain solids largerthan a specific size;

the filter material 0202 being positioned within the frame 0104;

the frame 0104 comprising a bottom, the bottom surface 0114 of the frame0104 comprising the filter material 0202;

the frame 0104 comprising an upper surface, the upper surface 0116 ofthe frame 0104 being adjacent to an insertion end 0118 of the frame0104, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 being opposite the feedstream inlet 0106, the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 comprisingthe filter material 0202;

the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 ofthe frame 0104 and an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104, the uppersurface 0116 of the frame 0104 being adjacent to an insertion end 0118of the frame 0104, the insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 (e.g.,positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104) being oppositethe feed stream inlet 0106;

the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 ofthe frame 0104 and a portion of an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104,the portion of the upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 being positionedin the narrow portion 0112 of the frame 0104 and adjacent to aninsertion end 0118 of the frame 0104, the insertion end 0118 of theframe 0104 (e.g., positioned in the narrow portion 0112 of the frame0104) being opposite the feed stream inlet 0106;

the filter material 0202 being positioned along a bottom surface 0114 ofthe frame 0104 and an upper surface 0116 of the frame 0104 adjacent tothe insertion end 0118 of the frame 0104 (e.g., positioned in the narrowportion 0112 of the frame 0104); or

any combination thereof.

4. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306(e.g., mesh structure);

the object retention structure 0306 configured to retain floatablematerials that enter the inlet filter 0100;

the object retention structure 0306 configured to hold or retain thefilter material 0202 against the frame 0104;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising,consisting essentially of, consisting of or being made of metal, metalalloy, wire, fiber, rope, cable, polymer, netting or any combinationthereof (e.g., metal wire or 22 gauge metal wire netting, for example,which can be used for poultry netting);

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprisingspaced apertures, at least one, at least 50%, 60, 70, 80, or 90% and upto 100% of the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306by area, some of or all of the spaced apertures of the object retentionstructure 0306 or on average the spaced apertures of the objectretention structure 0306 having a smaller cross-sectional open area, asmaller aperture length 0308, a smaller aperture width 0310, or anycombination thereof, when compared to at least one, the smallest, thelargest, some of or all of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104or the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 on average;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures; the inlet filter 0100comprising an object retention structure 0306; the object retentionstructure 0306 configured to retain floatable materials that enter theinlet filter 0100; at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spacedapertures of the object retention structure 0306 are smaller than theaverage size of the spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104; or anycombination thereof;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprisingspaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% andup to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of thespaced apertures or the spaced apertures on average have across-sectional open area of 9 square inches, or at least 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, or 13 square inches, no more than 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or14 square inches, or any combination thereof;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprisingspaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% andup to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of thespaced apertures have an aperture length 0308 of 3 inches, or at least1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches, or anycombination thereof, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being thelongest distance between any two points on the object retentionstructure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) that bound the aperture;

the object retention structure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprisingspaced apertures, and at least one, at least 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% andup to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, a plurality of or all of thespaced apertures have an aperture width 0310 of 3 inches, or at least 1,2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches, or anycombination thereof, the aperture width 0310 of an aperture beingmeasured in a direction that is perpendicular to the aperture length0308 and being measured between two points on the object retentionstructure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) that bound the aperture;

a portion of the filter material 0202 is positioned (e.g., clamped,fixed, squeezed, sandwiched or any combination thereof) between theframe 0104 and the object retention structure 0306;

the filter material 0202 comprises one and only one continuous piece ofmaterial;

the filter material 0202 comprises a plurality of pieces of material;

the filter material 0202 is configured to extend across at least 50, 60,70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of a bottomsurface area of the frame 0104, the inlet filter 0100 being configuredso that the bottom surface area is located at the bottom surface 0114 ofthe frame 0104 when the frame 0104 is installed in the storm sewer inlet0102;

the inlet filter 0100 configured so that during an overflow conditionwherein the top of the feed stream 0108 is at an elevation above the top0128 of the filter material 0202, the inlet filter 0100 discharges anelevated portion 0122 of the feed stream 0108 through at least oneaperture 0304 in the inlet filter 0100, the elevated portion 0122 of thefeed stream 0108 comprising a portion of the feed stream 0108 at anelevation higher than the elevation of the top 0128 of the filtermaterial 0202, optionally the at least one aperture 0304 configured topass smaller objects in the solid materials and retain larger objects inthe solid materials;

the inlet filter 0100 comprises an overflow outlet 0302, optionally theoverflow outlet 0302 is configured to permit water that enters the inletentrance to exit the frame 0104 without passing through the filtermaterial 0202 when an overflow condition exists, the overflow conditionoccurring when the fluid level of a fluid entering the inlet entrance isat a higher elevation than the top 0128 of the filter material 0202;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the filter material 0202extends from the bottom surface 0114 of the frame 0104 and up to thebottom of an overflow outlet 0302 of the inlet filter 0100, optionallythe bottom of the overflow outlet 0302 is at least 2 inches verticallydown from the top of the frame 0104 when the bottom surface 0114 of theframe 0104 is resting on a horizontal surface;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the inlet filter comprisesan overflow outlet 0302 above the filter material 0202 or above andadjacent to the filter material, the overflow outlet comprising at leastone aperture (e.g., one and only one aperture, at least two apertures, aplurality of apertures, or a combination thereof) that is at least 1, 2or 3 inches high, no more than 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 inches high; or acombination thereof;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the inlet filter comprisesan overflow outlet 0302 above the filter material 0202; the overflowoutlet configured to prevent the inlet filter from clogging, forexample, due to excess sediment, debris, floatables or any combinationthereof; optionally as a result of the excess sediment, debris,floatables or any combination thereof attaching to the feed stream inletof the inlet filter, entrance surface of the inlet filter, front of theinlet filter, or any combination thereof; optionally thereby preventingflooding or pooling of stormwater, for example, at or adjacent to thestorm sewer inlet, the inlet filter, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that the filter material 0202 canbe removed from the inlet filter 0100 and replaced with a replacementfilter material 0202; or

any combination thereof;

5. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the exterior of the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that an angle0804 between the top exterior surface 0806 of the inlet filter 0100 andthe bottom exterior surface 0808 of the inlet filter 0100 is 30 degrees,or at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 degrees, no more than 20, 25,30, 35, 45 or 50 degrees, or any combination thereof;

the exterior of the inlet filter 0100 is configured so that a verticalcross-section of the wedge-shape of the frame 0104, the cross-sectionextending from the thick portion 0110 of the frame 0104 to the narrowportion 0112 of the frame 0104, is a right triangle with the top of theframe 0104 being the hypotenuse of the right triangle; or

any combination thereof.

6. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306(e.g., mesh structure) configured to retain floatable solid materialsthat can pass through the frame 0104;

the inlet filter 0100 comprising an object retention structure 0306(e.g., mesh structure) configured to maintain the filter material 0202in an operational configuration, optionally when the filter material0202 is in the operational configuration, the filter material 0202 ispositioned to filter a fluid passing through the frame 0104, positionedadjacent to the frame 0104, positioned between the frame 0104 and theobject retention structure 0306, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and the inlet filter 0100comprising an object retention structure 0306, the object retentionstructure 0306 (e.g., mesh structure) comprising spaced apertures, atleast one, at least 50%, 60, 70, 80, or 90% and up to 100% of the spacedapertures of the object retention structure 0306 by area, some of or allof the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306 or onaverage the spaced apertures of the object retention structure 0306having a smaller cross-sectional open area, a smaller aperture length0308, a smaller aperture width 0310, or any combination thereof, whencompared to at least one, the smallest, the largest, some of or all ofthe spaced apertures 0304 of the frame 0104 or the spaced apertures 0304of the frame 0104 on average;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, aplurality of or all of the spaced apertures or the spaced apertures onaverage have a cross-sectional open area of 36 square inches, or atleast 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 square inches, no more than 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 55 square inches, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, aplurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture length 0308of 6 inches, or at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, or nomore than 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 inches, or any combinationthereof, the aperture length 0308 of an aperture being the longestdistance between any two points on the frame 0104 that bound theaperture;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, aplurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture width 0310of 6 inches, or at least 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, or nomore than 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 inches, or any combinationthereof, the aperture width 0310 of an aperture being measured in adirection that is perpendicular to the aperture length 0308 and beingmeasured between two points on the frame 0104 that bound the aperture;

or

any combination thereof.

7. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104, any component of the inletfilter 0100 or any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100described in this disclosure) configured to fit completely in the stormsewer 0130 (e.g., storm sewer inlet 0102);

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104, any component of the inletfilter 0100 or any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100described in this disclosure) configured so that it does not protrudefrom the storm sewer 0130 (e.g., storm sewer inlet 0102);

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104, any component of the inletfilter 0100 or any combination of components of the inlet filter 0100described in this disclosure) configured so that it does not protrudeoutside the storm sewer 0130 (e.g., storm sewer inlet 0102) to adistance of more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inchesfrom the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

8. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the frame 0104) configured to retainfloatable solid materials (e.g., solid materials too large to passthrough apertures in the inlet filter 0100 (e.g. frame 0104)) that passthrough the feed stream inlet 0106 and into the inner cavity 0120 of theinlet filter 0100;

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., the frame 0104) configured to retainfloatable solid materials (e.g., solid materials too large to passthrough apertures in the inlet filter 0100 (e.g. frame 0104)) in theinner cavity 0120 of the inlet filter 0100;

the inlet filter 0100 configured to maintain the filter material 0202 inan operational configuration, optionally when the filter material 0202is in the operational configuration, the filter material 0202 ispositioned to filter a fluid passing through the frame 0104, positionedadjacent to the frame 0104, positioned on an inner surface of the frame0104, positioned so that a fluid exiting the inner cavity 0120 of theframe 0104 under conditions that do not constitute an overflow conditionwill pass through the filter material 0202 before passing through atleast one, a plurality of, or all of the apertures of the frame 0104, orany combination thereof.

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, aplurality of or all of the spaced apertures have a cross-sectional openarea of 9 square inches, or at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13square inches, no more than 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 square inches,or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, aplurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture length 0308of 3 inches, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3,4, 5 or 6 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture length 0308of an aperture being the longest distance between any two points on theframe 0104 that bound the aperture;

the frame 0104 comprising spaced apertures, and at least one, at least50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% and up to 100% of the spaced apertures by area, aplurality of or all of the spaced apertures have an aperture width 0310of 3 inches, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 inches, or no more than 2, 3,4, 5 or 6 inches, or any combination thereof, the aperture width 0310 ofan aperture being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to theaperture length 0308 and being measured between two points on the frame0104 that bound the aperture;

or

any combination thereof.

9. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured tohold or retain the filter material 0202 (e.g., in an operationalconfiguration relative to the inlet filter 0100);

the filter cartridge 0134 being configured to be inserted and removedfrom the inlet filter 0100;

the filter cartridge 0134 being configured to be opened to permit accessto the filter material 0202 held by the filter cartridge 0134, to permitthe filter material 0202 to be removed, to permit the filter material0202 to be replaced, or any combination thereof;

the filter cartridge 0134 being configured to be closed to retain thefilter material 0202 or replacement filter material 0202 in a desiredoperational position or configuration with respect to the inlet filter0100;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented withrespect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 canbe opened, closed, inserted, removed, replaced or any combinationthereof by a user 0136 through the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inletfilter 0100, optionally without needing to open a manhole, optionallywithout needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewerinlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented withrespect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 canbe opened by a user 0136 through the storm sewer inlet 0102, optionallywithout needing to open a manhole, optionally without needing to removethe inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented withrespect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 islocated adjacent to the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented withrespect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134, afilter material 0202 held or retained by the filter cartridge 0134, orany combination thereof can be installed, removed, replaced or anycombination thereof (e.g., for use with the inlet filter 0100) by a user0136 (e.g., through the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100,through the sewer inlet or any combination thereof), optionally whilethe inlet filter 0100 is positioned in an operational configuration(e.g., configuration in which the inlet filter 0100 could operate if thefilter were operably installed to filter the feed stream 0108), at leastpartially in a storm sewer inlet 0102, fully in a storm sewer inlet0102, installed in the storm sewer inlet 0102 or a combination thereof;

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured toretain the filter material 0202, the filter cartridge configured so thatthe filter material can be replaced by a user after removing the filtercartridge from an aperture 1304 in a side (e.g., either side) of theinlet filter;

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a filter cartridge 0134 configured toretain the filter material 0202, the filter cartridge 0134 configured sothat the filter material 0202 can be replaced by a user 0136 through thestorm sewer inlet 0102 while the inlet filter 0100 is installed in thestorm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented withrespect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 canbe removed from the inlet filter 0100 by a user 0136 through the stormsewer inlet 0102, optionally without needing to open a manhole,optionally without needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from thestorm sewer inlet 0102;

the filter cartridge 0134 configured (e.g., positioned and oriented withrespect to the inlet filter 0100) so that the filter cartridge 0134 canbe installed in the inlet filter 0100 by a user 0136 through the stormsewer inlet 0102, optionally without needing to open a manhole,optionally without needing to remove the inlet filter 0100 from thestorm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

10. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 comprising a lock 0132;

the lock 0132 configured to prevent removal of the inlet filter 0100from the storm sewer inlet 0102 while the lock 0132 is in a lockedconfiguration;

the lock 0132 configured to permit removal of the inlet filter 0100 fromthe storm sewer inlet 0102 while the lock 0132 is in an unlockedconfiguration;

the lock 0132 is configured to be coupled (e.g., permanently coupled,reversibly coupled, or removably coupled) to the inlet filter 0100(e.g., the frame 0104 of the inlet filter 0100);

the lock 0132 comprises at least one protrusion, the at least oneprotrusion protruding past the frame 0104 when the lock 0132 is in alocked configuration, the at least one protrusion not protruding pastthe frame 0104 when the lock 0132 is in an unlocked configuration, theat least one protrusion being rotatable relative to the frame 0104, theat least one protrusion configured to protrude beyond the frame 0104,the at least one protrusion configured to be retracted so that the atleast one protrusion does not protrude beyond the frame 0104, or anycombination thereof;

or

any combination thereof.

11. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting ofmetal, metal alloy, wire, or any combination thereof (e.g., metal wire)that has been bent into a wedge shape and optionally opposite ends ofthe wire have been coupled together;

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of apolymer (e.g., plastic, thermoplastic, rubber, a polymer material thatcan be molded into the form of the frame 0104, or any combinationthereof);

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting ofany material that has a flexibility, rigidity, ductility, yieldstrength, compressive strength, tensile strength or any combinationthereof so that when the frame 0104 is wedged into a storm sewer inlet0102 and compressed between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewerinlet 0102, the frame 0104 will remain in an operative, orientation orcombination thereof (e.g., in the storm sewer inlet 0102) duringexpected operational conditions, during expected design conditions,during regulatorily specified conditions, against a specified velocityof water, or any combination thereof;

the frame 0104 comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting ofany material that has a flexibility, rigidity, ductility, yieldstrength, compressive strength, tensile strength or any combinationthereof so that when the frame 0104 is wedged into a storm sewer inlet0102 and compressed between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewerinlet 0102, the frame 0104 will remain in an operative, orientation orcombination thereof (e.g., in the storm sewer inlet 0102) as waterenters the storm sewer inlet 0102 at a velocity corresponding to thevelocity of water entering the storm sewer 0130 during a flood event inwhich an elevation of the flood water corresponds to the elevation offlood water during a 5 year, 10 year, 25 year, 100 year, 500 year, or1000 year flood as calculated by applicable regulations for the locationof the storm sewer 0130 at the time that the inlet filter 0100 isinstalled;

the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104) configured so that when theinlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104) is wedged into a storm sewer inlet0102 and compressed between opposite inner surfaces of the storm sewerinlet 0102, the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., frame 0104) will remain in anoperative, orientation or combination thereof (e.g., in the storm sewerinlet 0102) during expected operational conditions, during expecteddesign conditions, during regulatorily specified conditions, against aspecified velocity of water, while operating to filter a feed stream0108 (e.g., comprising water and solid materials) entering the stormsewer inlet 0102 (e.g., as a result of rain or flooding), whileoperating to filter a feed stream 0108 (e.g., water and solid materials)entering the feed stream inlet 0106 of the inlet filter 0100 (e.g., as aresult of rain or flooding), or any combination thereof;

or

any combination thereof.

12. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the filter material 0202 comprising a material configured to filter afeed stream 0108 entering the inlet filter 0100, the filter material0202 retaining solid materials in the feed stream 0108 to provide aretentate 0138, the filter material 0202 passing fluid in the feedstream 0108 to provide a filtrate, the inlet filter 0100 configured todischarge the filtrate to the storm sewer 0130;

the filter material 0202 comprising a fabric;

the filter material 0202 comprising a filter material 0202 (e.g.non-woven geotextile fabric);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric)having a weight per area equal to 3.1 to 3.5 ounces per square yard(e.g., as measured according to ASTM D5261-10(2018));

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric)having a weight per area equal to at least 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2,3.3, 3.4, or 3.5 ounces per square yard, no more than 2.0, 2.5, 3.0,3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 ounces per square yard, or anycombination thereof as measured according to ASTM D5261-10(2018);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric)having an apparent opening size (AOS) equivalent to or greater than theapparent opening size of a #50 US sieve filter material 0202 (orequivalent or greater than approximately 0.297 mm apparent opening size)as measured according to ASTM D4751-20 (e.g., a #45 US sieve filter or#40 US sieve filter or any US sieve # smaller than #50 has a greaterapparent opening size than a #50 US sieve filter);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric)having an apparent opening size (AOS) equal to at least the apparentopening size of a #60, #50, #45, or #40 US sieve filter material 0202(or at least 0.250, 0.297, 0.354 or 0.400 mm), no more than the apparentopening size of a #50, #45, #40 or #35 US sieve filter material 0202 (orno more than 0.297, 0.354, 0.400 or 0.500 mm), or any combinationthereof as measured according to ASTM D4751-20 (e.g., a #45 US sievefilter or #40 US sieve filter or any US sieve # smaller than #50 has agreater apparent opening size than a #50 US sieve filter);

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric)having a water flow rate equal to or greater than 150 gpm/ft{circumflexover ( )}2 (or 6095 lb/min/m{circumflex over ( )}2) as measuredaccording to ASTM D4491/D4491M-17;

optionally the filter material 0202 (e.g. non-woven geotextile fabric)having a water flow rate equal to at least 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150,155, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375 or400 gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2, no more than 110, 120, 130, 140, 150,155, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375,400 or 425 gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2, or any combination thereof, asmeasured according to ASTM D4491/D4491M-17;

the filter material 0202 comprising a monofilament fabric;

or

any combination thereof.

13. Any inlet filter disclosed in this disclosure, or the inlet filterof any preceding clause:

the inlet filter comprising any component disclosed in this disclosure,any combination of components disclosed in this disclosure, any portionof a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portionsof a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portionsof components disclosed in this disclosure, or any combination thereof;

the inlet filter comprising any component disclosed in this disclosure,any combination of components disclosed in this disclosure, any portionof a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portionsof a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combination of portionsof components disclosed in this disclosure, or any combination thereof;optionally the inlet filter comprising any component disclosed in thisdisclosure, any combination of components disclosed in this disclosure,any portion of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combinationof portions of a component disclosed in this disclosure, any combinationof portions of components disclosed in this disclosure, or anycombination thereof is configured to have any configuration disclosed inthis disclosure;

or

any combination thereof.

14. A method 0900, the method comprising:

inserting 0902 at least one inlet filter 0100 (e.g., an inlet filter,one and only one inlet filter, a plurality of inlet filters comprisingthe inlet filter, the inlet filter of any preceding clause, or anycombination thereof) into a storm sewer inlet 0102;

optionally the at least one inlet filter comprising an inlet filter thatis one of a plurality of inlet filters inserted into the storm sewerinlet (e.g., overlapping, adjacent to each other, side-by-side, coupledto each other, connected, fixed to each other, with a narrow portion ofthe inlet filters inserted into the storm sewer inlet and the thickportion being too thick to pass through (e.g., partially through orcompletely through) the storm sewer inlet; or any combination thereof)the filters cooperating to filter a feed stream entering the storm sewerinlet;

using 0904 the at least one inlet filter 0100 to filter a feed streamentering the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

15. A method 0900 of using at least one inlet filter 0100 (e.g., aninlet filter, one and only one inlet filter, a plurality of inletfilters comprising the inlet filter, the inlet filter of any precedingclause, any portion of an inlet filter, any combination of portions ofan inlet filter, or any combination thereof), the method comprising:

inserting 0902 the inlet filter 0100 into a storm sewer inlet 0102;

inserting 0902 an additional inlet filter 0100 into the storm sewerinlet 0102;

removing the inlet filter 0100 from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

locking a lock 0132 of the inlet filter 0100 so that the inlet filter0100 cannot be removed from the storm sewer inlet 0102;

removing a filter cartridge (e.g., the filter cartridge) from the inletfilter 0100 comprising or retaining a filter material 0202, the filtermaterial 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108 that flows intothe inlet filter 0100;

installing a replacement filter cartridge into an operable configurationrelative to the inlet filter 0100, the replacement filter cartridgecomprising or retaining a replacement filter material 0202, thereplacement filter material 0202 configured to filter a feed stream 0108that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

replacing a filter cartridge comprising or retaining a filter material0202, the filter material 0202 used to filter a feed stream 0108 thatflows into the inlet filter 0100;

replacing a filter material 0202, the filter material 0202 used tofilter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

opening a filter cartridge (e.g., the filter cartridge) of the inletfilter 0100; installing a filter material 0202 (e.g., the filtermaterial 0202) in the filter cartridge; replacing a filter material 0202(e.g., the filter material 0202) in the filter cartridge; removing afilter material 0202 (e.g., the filter material 0202) from the filtercartridge; installing a replacement filter material 0202 (e.g., in thefilter cartridge); the filter material 0202 configured to filter a feedstream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100; the opening thefilter cartridge, the installing the filter material 0202, the replacingthe filter material 0202, the installing the replacement filter material0202, or any combination thereof being performed by a user 0136 throughthe storm sewer inlet 0102, through the feed stream inlet 0106 of theinlet filter 0100, from a position in front of a curb where the stormsewer inlet 0102 is located, without opening or entering a manhole forthe storm sewer 0130 comprising the storm sewer inlet 0102, or anycombination thereof; the filter cartridge comprising or retaining afilter material 0202; or any combination thereof;

removing a filter material 0202 (e.g., the filter material 0202) fromthe inlet filter 0100, the filter material 0202 configured to filter afeed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

installing a replacement filter material 0202 into an operableconfiguration relative to the inlet filter 0100 comprising a replacementfilter material 0202, the replacement filter material 0202 configured tofilter a feed stream 0108 that flows into the inlet filter 0100;

unlocking a lock 0132 (e.g., the lock 0132) of the inlet filter 0100 sothat the inlet filter 0100 can be removed from the storm sewer inlet0102;

using 0904 the inlet filter 0100 for filtering a feed stream 0108entering the storm sewer inlet 0102;

or

any combination thereof.

16. The method of any preceding clause:

the filtering comprising:

using the feed stream inlet 0106 to receive the feed stream 0108comprising a fluid (e.g., water) and solid materials carried by thefluid;

using the filter material 0202 to filter the feed stream 0108, therebyproviding a filtrate stream 0126 comprising fluid and solid materialsthat can pass through the filter material 0202 and a retentate 0138comprising solid materials that cannot pass through the filter material0202;

discharging the filtrate stream 0126 comprising at least a portion ofthe fluid in the feed stream 0108 and at least a portion of any solidmaterials that are not retained by the inlet filter 0100;

retaining solid materials in the retentate 0138 in the inner cavity 0120of the inlet filter 0100;

the inlet filter 0100 configured so that during an overflow conditionwherein the top of the feed stream 0108 is at an elevation above the top0128 of the filter material 0202, the inlet filter 0100 discharges aportion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevation above the top 0128 ofthe filter material 0202 through at least one aperture 0304 in the inletfilter 0100, optionally the at least one aperture 0304 configured topass smaller objects in the solid materials and retain larger objects inthe solid materials;

optionally, during an overflow condition wherein the top of the feedstream 0108 is at an elevation above the top 0128 of the filter material0202, discharging a portion of the feed stream 0108 at an elevationabove the top 0128 of the filter material 0202 through at least oneaperture 0304 (e.g., a plurality of apertures) in the inlet filter 0100(e.g., the frame 0104 of the inlet filter 0100), optionally the at leastone aperture 0304 configured to pass smaller objects in the solidmaterials and retain larger objects in the solid materials;

or

any combination thereof.

17. The method of any preceding clause:

the method comprising inserting a plurality of inlet filters 0100 intothe storm sewer inlet 0102, the step of inserting the plurality of inletfilters into the storm sewer comprising the step of inserting the inletfilter 0100 into a storm sewer inlet 0102, the plurality of inletfilters 0100 comprising the inlet filter 0100 and at least oneadditional inlet filter 0100, each of the at least one additional inletfilters 0100 comprising corresponding components that correspond to thecomponents of the inlet filter 0100;

optionally the corresponding components configured as the components ofthe inlet filter 0100 are configured;

optionally the corresponding components configured analogously to thecomponents of the inlet filter 0100;

optionally each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 are configured tobe joined (e.g., overlapped, fastened together, positioned adjacently,or any combination thereof) to filter a feed stream 0108 that enters thestorm sewer inlet 0102, thereby providing a filtered stream anddischarge the filtered stream to the storm sewer 0130 comprising thestorm sewer inlet 0102;

optionally each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 are configured tobe joined (e.g., overlapped, fastened together, positioned adjacently,or any combination thereof) to function as a single inlet filter 0100(e.g., a single continuous inlet filter 0100) for the storm sewer inlet0102;

optionally each of the plurality of inlet filters 0100 are configured tobe joined (e.g., overlapped, fastened together, positioned adjacently,or any combination thereof) to filter at least a portion (e.g., at least1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92,93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 99% by mass or volumetric flow rate) of afeed stream 0108 entering the storm sewer inlet 0102 if the level of thefeed stream 0108 is lower than an overflow outlet 0302 of each of theplurality of inlet filters 0100;

or

any combination thereof.

18. The method of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100 or any inlet filter 0100 being the inlet filter0100 of any preceding clause or any filter described in this disclosure.

19. The inlet filter 0100 of any preceding clause:

the inlet filter 0100, any component of the inlet filter 0100, anycombination of components of the inlet filter 0100, or any combinationthereof being configured to perform the method, any step of the method,any combination of steps of the method, any portion of a step of themethod, or any combination of portions of any step or steps of themethod described in any preceding clause or in this disclosure.

Although the invention has been described above and in the drawingsusing an inlet filter having a frame that is generally the shape of atriangular prism, the frame is not limited to this shape. For example,other wedge shapes can also be used. Moreover, the frame can havevarious shapes that are thick at one end taper to a narrower oppositeend. Additionally, although the top and bottom exterior surfaces of thewedge that engage a storm sewer inlet can be planar, they can also becurved, rounded, convex, concave, or any combination thereof.

Additionally, although the frame need not be shaped exactly like arectangular prism, providing the frame with the shape of rectangularprism shape can facilitate insertion of the inlet filter into a stormsewer inlet and retention of the inlet filter in the storm sewer inlet.For example, without being bound by theory, if the top exterior surfaceand bottom exterior surface of the frame are generally planar, as theinlet filter is inserted into the storm sewer inlet and against top andbottom interior surfaces of the storm sewer inlet, respectively, the topand bottom exterior surfaces of the frame can be flexed inwardly as theinlet filter is compressed by being pushed against the top and bottominterior surfaces of the storm sewer inlet. Furthermore, as the top andbottom exterior surface of the frame are flexed inwardly, they willexert a force against the top and bottom interior surfaces of the stormsewer inlet, and this force can increase the frictional force that mustbe overcome to extract the inlet filter from between storm sewer inlet.Meanwhile, a stream of fluid rushing into the storm sewer inlet and theinlet filter will be unable to push the inlet filter into the stormsewer because the thicker end of the wedge is too thick to pass throughthe storm sewer inlet.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described using the word“comprising,” additional embodiments can be created by replacing theword “comprising” with “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of.”

Additionally, the phrase “consisting essentially of” can be replaced bythe term “comprising” or “consisting of” to form additional embodiments.

Furthermore, the phrase “consisting of” can be replaced by the term“comprising” or “consisting essentially of” to form additionalembodiments.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described using a firstrange with a first set of end points, additional embodiments can becreated by replacing the first range with a narrower range whoseendpoints are selected from any value contained in the first range.

Although embodiment of the invention have been described using aspecific direction relative to a reference direction, additionalembodiments can be created by indicating that the specific direction canvary from the reference direction by no more than 45, 40, 35, 30, 25,20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 degrees.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described using thephrase “at least a portion” or “a portion,” in additional embodiments,any of these phrases can be replaced by at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or99 and up to 100% by number, length, width, thickness, cross-sectionalarea, surface area, volume, weight, mass flow rate or volumetric flowrate of an item, items, a substance, substances, a characteristic, orcharacteristics to which the phrase “at least a portion” or “a portion”are referring. For example, “at least a portion of the fluid” can bereplaced with “at least 50% by mass flow rate of the fluid” or “at least90% and up to 100% by volumetric flow rate of the fluid.”

Although embodiments of the invention have been described with respectto a value, a lower end point of a range, an upper endpoint of a range,or any combination thereof, in additional embodiments, the value, thelower end point of the range, the upper endpoint of the range, or anycombination thereof can be replaced by a replacement value that is 0.5,0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 or 1.5 times the value, thelower endpoint of the range or the upper endpoint of the range expresslydescribed in the application. For example, if a value of 1 is describedin the application, in additional embodiments, the value can be replacedby a range from 0.5 to 1.5. As another example, if a range from 1 to 10is described in the application, in additional embodiments, the rangecan be replaced by a range from 0.5 to 15, a range from 0.5 to 5, arange from 1.5 to 5, or a range from 1.5 to 15.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to numbers(e.g., first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, etc.), the numbersare generally nominal numbers, unless otherwise specified expressly orby context. In other words, the numbers are used for naming purposes todistinguish from another item, without reference to order or even totalnumber. Nonetheless, in some embodiments, any number can be deemed acardinal number that specifies the number of items referenced.Furthermore, in some embodiments, any number can be deemed an ordinalnumber that specifies the order of an item among other items. In someembodiments, any number can be deemed as a nominal number, a cardinalnumber, an ordinal number or any combination thereof.

Although embodiments of methods have been described with steps in aspecific order, additional embodiments can be provided in which anylisted steps occur simultaneously, or in a different order that isprovided by substituting the position of one step for the position ofanother step. Additionally, although embodiments of methods have beendescribed with specific combinations of steps, in additionalembodiments, any step or any combination of steps can be omitted fromthe method, any step described in this disclosure can be added to themethod, or any combination thereof.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described with referenceto materials or classes of materials, for example, polymers, metals ormetal alloys, additional embodiments can be formed in which the inletfilter, any component of the inlet filter, or any combination ofcomponents of the inlet filter comprise, consist essentially of, consistof, or are made using any material (e.g., metal, metal alloy, steel,stainless steel, aluminum, polymer, rubber, plastic, thermoplastic,ceramic material, fiber, wood, rope, cable, wire or any combinationthereof) that is capable of performing at least one of, any combinationof, or all of the functions described or implied in this disclosure forthe inlet filter, the component of the inlet filter, or the combinationof components of the inlet filter.

Examples of an inlet filter being in a storm sewer inlet include, butare not limited to, the inlet filter being at least partially in thestorm sewer inlet, the inlet filter being partially in the storm sewerinlet, the inlet filter being completely in the storm sewer inlet exceptfor a protruding portion of the inlet filter that protrudes from thestorm sewer inlet by 0 to no more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11or 12 inches, the inlet filter being completely in the storm sewerinlet, or any combination thereof. Additionally, for any embodiment inwhich an inlet filter, component of an inlet filter, or combination of acomponents of an inlet filter is described as being in the storm seweror storm sewer inlet, additional embodiments can be formed in which theinlet filter, component of the inlet filter, or combination of thecomponents of the inlet filter is at least partially in the storm sewerinlet, is partially in the storm sewer inlet, is completely in the stormsewer inlet except for a protruding portion of the inlet filter thatprotrudes from the storm sewer inlet by 0 to no more than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 inches, is completely in the storm sewer inlet,or any combination thereof. Additionally, for any embodiment in which aninlet filter, component of an inlet filter, or combination of acomponents of an inlet filter is described as being in the storm sewerinlet, additional embodiments can be formed in which another of theinlet filter, component of the inlet filter, or combination of thecomponents of the inlet filter is in the storm sewer. Furthermore, forany embodiment in which an inlet filter, component of an inlet filter,or combination of a components of an inlet filter is described as beingin the storm sewer, additional embodiments can be formed in whichanother of the inlet filter, component of the inlet filter, orcombination of the components of the inlet filter in the storm sewerinlet.

Although embodiments have been described in which a first element orplurality of elements is smaller than a second element or plurality ofelements, in additional embodiments, the first element or plurality ofelements can be smaller by length, width, area, in terms of the size ofthe diameter of a spherical particle that can pass through the firstelement or plurality of elements versus the second element or pluralityof elements, by volume, by mass or any combination thereof.Additionally, at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the firstplurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combinationthereof; no more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60,70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the firstplurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combinationthereof; or any combination thereof can be smaller than the average sizeof the second plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number, orany combination thereof.

Although embodiments have been described in which a first element orplurality of elements is larger than a second element or plurality ofelements, in additional embodiments, the first element or plurality ofelements can be larger by length, width, area, in terms of the size ofthe diameter of a spherical particle that can pass through the firstelement or plurality of elements versus the second element or pluralityof elements, by volume, by mass or any combination thereof.Additionally, at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,60, 70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the firstplurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combinationthereof; no more than 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60,70, 80, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% of the firstplurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number or any combinationthereof; or any combination thereof can be larger than the average sizeof the second plurality of elements by area, mass, volume, number, orany combination thereof.

Although the invention hereof has been described by way of preferredembodiments, it will be evident that other adaptations and modificationscan be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Theterms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent ofexcluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover anyand all equivalents that may be employed without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. An inlet filter for a storm sewer inlet, the inlet filter comprising:a frame comprising a feed stream inlet and a filtrate outlet; and filtermaterial; the feed stream inlet configured to receive a feed stream, thefeed stream inlet comprising a plurality of apertures, the feed streamcomprising a fluid and solid materials carried by the fluid into theinlet filter; the filtrate outlet configured to discharge a filtratestream comprising at least a portion of the fluid in the feed streamthat passes through the filter material and any solid materials thatpass through the filter material; the frame being configured so that anexterior of the frame is shaped like a wedge, the frame comprising athick portion configured so that it is too thick to pass through areference rectangle and the frame comprising a narrow portion oppositethe thick portion, the narrow portion configured so that it is thinenough to be inserted into the reference rectangle; and the thickportion of the frame comprising the feed stream inlet.
 2. The inletfilter of claim 1, the frame being configured to form an inner cavitywithin the frame, the inlet filter configured to retain floatable solidmaterials in the inner cavity.
 3. The inlet filter of claim 1, the inletfilter comprising an overflow outlet, the overflow outlet configured toallow an elevated portion of the feed stream to be discharged from theinlet filter without passing through the filter material, the elevatedportion of the feed stream comprising a portion of the feed stream at anelevation higher than the elevation of the top of the filter material.4. The inlet filter of claim 1, the frame comprising spaced aperturescomprising the plurality of apertures of the feed stream inlet, theinlet filter comprising an object retention structure having spacedapertures, the object retention structure configured to retain floatablematerials that enter the inlet filter, and wherein at least 50% and upto 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the object retentionstructure are smaller than an average size by area of the spacedapertures of the frame.
 5. The inlet filter of claim 1, the inlet filterbeing configured so that the filter material can be removed from theinlet filter and replaced with a replacement filter material.
 6. Theinlet filter of claim 1, the exterior of the inlet filter is configuredso that an angle between a top exterior surface of the inlet filter anda bottom exterior surface of the inlet filter is from 15 to 45 degrees.7. The inlet filter of claim 1, the frame comprising spaced aperturescomprising the plurality of apertures of the feed stream inlet, and atleast 50% and up to 100% by area of the spaced apertures of the framehave an aperture length and an aperture width equal to 6 to 8 inches,the aperture length of an aperture being the longest distance betweenany two points on the frame that bound the aperture, and the aperturewidth of the aperture being measured in a direction that isperpendicular to the aperture length and being measured between twopoints on the frame that bound the aperture.
 8. The inlet filter ofclaim 7, the inlet filter comprising an object retention structure, theobject retention structure configured to retain floatable materials that(i) enter the inlet filter and (ii) can pass through the spacedapertures in the frame.
 9. The inlet filter of claim 1, the framecomprising spaced apertures comprising the plurality of apertures of thefeed stream inlet, and at least 50% and up to 100% by area of the spacedapertures have an aperture length and an aperture width equal to 1 to 5inches, the aperture length of an aperture being the longest distancebetween any two points on the frame that bound the aperture, and theaperture width being measured in a direction that is perpendicular tothe aperture length and being measured between two points on the framethat bound the aperture.
 10. The inlet filter of claim 1, the inletfilter comprising a filter cartridge configured to retain the filtermaterial, the filter cartridge configured so that the filter materialcan be replaced by a user after removing the filter cartridge from anaperture in a side of the inlet filter.
 11. The inlet filter of claim 1,the inlet filter comprising a filter cartridge configured to retain thefilter material, the filter cartridge configured so that the filtermaterial can be replaced by a user through the storm sewer inlet whilethe inlet filter is installed in the storm sewer inlet.
 12. The inletfilter of claim 1, the inlet filter comprising a lock, the lockconfigured to prevent removal of the inlet filter from the storm sewerinlet while the lock is in a locked configuration.
 13. The inlet filterof claim 1, the inlet filter configured so that the inlet filter remainsin an operative location at least partially in the storm sewer inletwhile operating to filter the feed stream entering the storm sewerinlet.
 14. The inlet filter of claim 1, the filter material comprising anon-woven geotextile fabric.
 15. The inlet filter of claim 1, the filtermaterial being positioned along a bottom surface of the frame and aportion of an upper surface of the frame, the portion of the uppersurface of the frame being positioned in the narrow portion of the frameand adjacent to an insertion end of the frame, the insertion end of theframe being opposite the feed stream inlet.
 16. A method, the methodcomprising: inserting an inlet filter into a storm sewer inlet; theinlet filter comprising components of the inlet filter, the componentsof the inlet filter comprising: a frame comprising a feed stream inletand a filtrate outlet; and filter material; the feed stream inletconfigured to receive a feed stream, the feed stream inlet comprising aplurality of apertures, the feed stream comprising a fluid and solidmaterials carried by the fluid into the inlet filter; and the filtrateoutlet configured to discharge at least a portion of a filtrate streamcomprising fluid from the feed stream that passes through the filtermaterial and any solid materials that pass through the filter material;the frame being configured so that an exterior of the frame is shapedlike a wedge, the frame comprising a thick portion configured so that itis too thick to pass through a reference rectangle and the framecomprising a narrow portion opposite the thick portion, the narrowportion configured so that it is thin enough to be inserted into thereference rectangle; and the thick portion of the frame comprising thefeed stream inlet.
 17. The method of claim 16, the method comprisinginserting a plurality of inlet filters into the storm sewer inlet, thestep of inserting the plurality of inlet filters into the storm sewerinlet comprising the step of inserting the inlet filter into the stormsewer inlet: the plurality of inlet filters comprising the inlet filterand at least one additional inlet filter; each of the at least oneadditional inlet filter comprising corresponding components thatcorrespond to the components of the inlet filter.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, the inlet filter comprising a lock, the method comprising:locking the lock of the inlet filter so that the inlet filter cannot beremoved from the storm sewer inlet.
 19. The method of claim 18, themethod comprising: unlocking the lock of the inlet filter so that theinlet filter can be removed from the storm sewer inlet.
 20. The methodof claim 16, the inlet filter comprising a filter cartridge, the filtercartridge retaining the filter material, the method comprising: openingthe filter cartridge of the inlet filter; and replacing the filtermaterial through the storm sewer inlet.
 21. The method of claim 16, themethod comprising: using the inlet filter for filtering the feed streamentering the storm sewer inlet, the filtering comprising: using the feedstream inlet to receive the feed stream comprising the fluid and thesolid materials carried by the fluid; using the filter material tofilter the feed stream, thereby providing the filtrate stream comprisingthe fluid and the solid materials that can pass through the filtermaterial and a retentate comprising solid materials that cannot passthrough the filter material; discharging the filtrate stream; retainingsolid materials in the retentate in an inner cavity of the inlet filter;the inlet filter configured so that during an overflow condition whereinthe top of the feed stream is at an elevation above the top of thefilter material, the inlet filter discharges an elevated portion of thefeed stream through at least one discharge aperture in the inlet filter,the elevated portion of the feed stream comprising a portion of the feedstream at an elevation higher than the elevation of the top of thefilter material, the at least one discharge aperture configured to passsmaller objects in the solid materials and retain larger objects in thesolid materials.
 22. The method of claim 16, the filter material beingpositioned along a bottom surface of the frame and a portion of an uppersurface of the frame, the portion of the upper surface of the framebeing positioned in the narrow portion of the frame and adjacent to aninsertion end of the frame, the insertion end of the frame beingopposite the feed stream inlet.
 23. The inlet filter of claim 1, theplurality of apertures of the feed stream inlet configured to passsmaller solid objects and retain larger solid objects.
 24. The inletfilter of claim 23, the frame being configured so that the exterior ofthe frame is shaped like a triangular prism; the triangular prism havinga front surface providing at least a part of the thick portion of theframe, a top surface coupled to the front surface, and a bottom surfacecoupled to the front surface and the top surface; the top surface andthe bottom surface extending from the thick portion of the frame to thenarrow portion of the frame; the front surface comprising the feedstream inlet and the plurality of apertures in the feed stream inlet.25. The inlet filter of claim 24, the triangular prism comprising: afirst side aperture bounded by the front surface, the top surface, andthe bottom surface; and a second side aperture opposite the first sideaperture, the second side aperture being bounded by the front surfacethe top surface and the bottom surface.
 26. The inlet filter of claim24, the frame being configured to be retained by opposite inner surfacesof the storm sewer inlet, and the inlet filter being configured so thatonly (i) the thick portion of the triangular-prism-shaped frame or (ii)a portion of the thick portion of the triangular-prism-shaped frameprotrudes from the storm sewer inlet.
 27. A system comprising a firstinlet filter for the storm sewer inlet according to claim 1 and a secondinlet filter for the storm sewer inlet according to claim 1; wherein thefirst inlet filter and the second inlet filter are configured to becapable of simultaneously (i) partially overlapping and (ii) cooperatingto filter the feed stream to the storm sewer inlet.
 28. The method ofclaim 16, the frame being configured so that the only portion of theframe that protrudes outside the storm sewer inlet is (i) the thickportion or (ii) a portion of the thick portion, the thick portion beingshaped like a thick portion of a wedge.
 29. The method of claim 16, theframe being configured to be retained in the storm sewer inlet solely by(i) compression of the frame between top and bottom surfaces of thestorm sewer inlet, (ii) friction between the frame and the top andbottom surfaces of the storm sewer, and (iii) the thick portion of theframe being too thick to pass through the storm sewer inlet, the thickportion of the frame being shaped like a thick portion of a wedge.